The first artist I am reviewing is also the first artist on that day: Jessie Reyez. Hot off of her first album, Kiddo, the angsty 26-year-old dazzled while on stage. The album is one of my current personal favorites, consistently cheering me during the dreaded school in the morning. Although performing for only about a half hour, Reyez killed some of the more popular songs on her album, namely “Figures” and “Gatekeeper”, also performing covers of songs such as “THat Part” by ScHoolboy Q, among others. What was even more surprising was that it was Reyez’s first time performing at a music festival. The atmosphere of a festival unlike any other, and Reyez certainly started off what would be a great day with a bang. I know that at least personally, the passion that Reyez showed during her short time on stage made me forget all about the blazing sun above me; it was as if nothing but her voice mattered. I, along with likely everyone else who heard her perform, predict that Reyez has a long successful career ahead of her.

Also on my list is the fun, energetic EDM-style music of Marshmello. A much more well-known artist, he went near the end of the day, making for a much more packed audience. The music he played was fantastic, and for someone who isn’t a huge fan of electronic music, the upbeat tempo displayed during the set was impossible not to jump around to. Original songs like “Alone” and “Summer” made the set among the best of the day. My only grievance with the set is not even with the music itself, but the surrounding environment. Marshmello’s performances are known to be very extravagant, with confetti, fire, and a general flare for the insane that can make you feel as if you are attending a “Blue Man Group” performance in disguise. However, the set performed last Saturday did not quite live up to that, relying almost completely the pure music and a few lights to energize the crowd. Maybe this had more to do with the venue itself, and while I still thoroughly enjoyed the music, the atmosphere was not as “hype” as I had expected going in.